Motor-vehicle-license clamp



May 8, -1928. 1,668,962

L. B. HARMON MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE CLAMP Filed Nov. 8. 1926 Patented May 8, 1928.

, UNITED STATES LOUIS B. HARMON, 0F PHILADELIHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. l

Mo'roavnnrcLE-Lrcnnsn CLAMP.

Application filed November 8, 1.926. Sera1,No.'14 'Z,025. i

This invention relates to improvements in devices for attaching license plates to motor vehicles, the principal object of the invention being to'provide a novel 'clan'ipjreadilfyr adjustable to .tit the various licenses and clamping brackets and easily applied to, and

detached from, any type of bracket or bar provided as a supportfor the license plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp aliording a relatively extended supporting bearing for the licensev plates and gripping the lattervat points other than `directly at the aperturesy in `the plates through which the clamping dcvicesproject.'

These and other ,useful ends hereinafter appearing I accomplisliby means of the novel structural features illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in'perspective of a part of a common form of license bracket to which the license is secured by means of a clamp made in accordance with the present invention Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewfsimilar to that of Fig. 2 but illustrating a modification within the scope of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective ofthe special clamping elements forming a part of the device shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective showing n further modification in which one of the clamping elements is an integral part of the major clamping device.

With reference to the drawings, the device in a preferred.V embodiment comprises an internally threaded sleeve 1 and a pair of rods 2, 2, each threaded at one end for entrance into the endsof the sleeve 1 and each having at or near its other end a transverse extension 3 threaded for reception of a wing or other suitable nut 4. As shown in Fig. 3, the opposite ends of the sleeve 1 are reversely threaded so that with the rods 2 held against rotation, rotation of the sleeve 1, as for example by means of a suitable i instrument inserted in a slot 5 provided for the purpose, results in the simultaneousseparation or drawing together of thel said rods.

The clamp is applied to the license plate by inserting the extensions 3 in the apertures in the license plate provided for the securing bolts commonly employed, the clamp being adjustable as kdescribed. above toadapt it to the varying distances between the said apertures'. Where a bracket suchas .illustrated in Fig. 1 provided for the license platekthe extensions 3 are then in` sorted through the slotted apertures `6 in the bracket, shown in Figs. 2 andv 3, after which the wing nuts are ap lied to secure the part-sto the bracket. Preiera bly1 washers Y T'areplaced between the back of the bracket and the nuts 21.y It will be noted thatv'when thus applied, the sleeve 1' `bears against the 'front facerof the plate. and when the nutsy 4 are. tightened up, the platev is securely clamped between the sleeve and the bracket.' Thus the license plate is 'supported not only atftlie apertures 9 througlrwhi'ch the extensions'3 project, butV is also scilirely blainped' intermediate "the apertures so that'no excessiveV straincome's at "'the'apertures." Also where the rods 2 arevof sufficient iexibility, tightening of the nuts 4 will cause them to spring backwardly against the tace of the license and provide a further clamp inde-` pendent of the apertures.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated a` device which adapts this type of clamp to plate supporting means including a horizontal rod or bar 10. p In this instance, I provide a pair of clamping elements 11 and 12, see Fig. 5, which as shown in Fig. 4 are applied to the projections 3 behind the plate, these clamps embracing the supporting bar 10 as shown to hold the license in place. The bar-engaging inner faces 18 of the clamps are preferably knurled or serrated to provide a more secure grip, and the clamp 11 which bears against the rear face of the license plate preferably is provided with transverse wings 14: which afford a wide bearing between which and those parts of the yclamp which bear against the forward face of the license plate the latter is securely held entirely independent of the apertures in the plate through which the eX- tensions 3 project. l

In Fig. 6. Iv have illustrated a modification of the device shown `in Figs. 4 and 5. kIn this instance the clamping element v13Jl corresponding withy the element 13 previously described is formed integrally with the member 2. The clamp 11 is retained and occupies a position against the back of the license plate so that the plate is clamped between the rod 2 and the extensions 14 on the said clamp. This modilication eliminates one of the separate parts of the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Y

f The clamp preferably is made entirely ot brass, and may be nickel-plated or enameled or merely polished. as desired. There. is, therefore, no tendency toward corrosion and rust tending` to render removal difficult. The device is both ornamental and highly elicient and satisfactory in all respects.

I claim:

l. A clamp for the license tags ot motor vehicles comprising an elongated element adjustable as to length and having relatively movable transverse threaded extensions, with nuts for application to said threaded extensions.

2. A clamp for the license plates of motor vehicles comprising an internally threaded sleeve, rods having one end threaded tor entrance into the ends ot' said sleeves, and each ot' said rods having also transverse threaded extensions with nuts on said extensions. f

3. A clamp for the license plates ot' motor 'vehicles comprising an elongated membery adjustable as to length and including relatively adjustable threaded transverse extensions, nuts on said extensions, and clamping elements on said extensions confined by said nuts. y .j p

4. A clamp for the license plates oi motor vehicles comprising an elongated member adjustable "as to length and including` relatively adjustable threaded transverse extensions, nuts on said extensions, and clampingelements carried by said member in relatively adjustable and opposed pairs, with at least one element of a pair mounted on the respective extensions and adapted to be pressed towards its companion element by the associated nut.

5. A clamp i'or the license plates of motor vehicles comprising an elongated member adjustable as to length and including relatively adjustable threaded transverse extensions, nuts on said extensions, and clamping elements carried by said member and arranged in relatively adjustable and opposed pairs, one.k element o' a pair being mounted on the respective extensions and being adapted to be pressed towards its companion clement by the associated nut, and one of said elements of veach pair also having transverse Wings providing an extended bearing forthe license plate.

' *LOUIS B. HARMON. 

